Central Sector Scheme of

National Fellowship for OBC Students

(Effective from April 2019)

Scheme Guidelines:

I. Background

Government of India had launched a Central Sector Scheme namely, National Fellowship
for OBC Students during the financial year 2014-15 to increase the opportunities for the
students of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for pursuing higher education leading to
acquiring degrees such as M.Phil. and Ph. D.

The scheme aims at providing financial assistance to the OBC students in obtaining quality
higher education leading to degrees such as M.Phil. and Ph.D. in universities, research
institutions and scientific institutions. This will not only enable them to be eligible for
employment to the posts of Lecturers lying vacant in various colleges and universities but
will also equip them to effectively take advantage of the growing opportunities at the
national and international level in the context of the new economic order.

II. Scope of the Scheme

The scheme is designed to provide a total number of 300 Junior Research Fellowships per
year from the year 2014-15 and 300 Senior Research Fellowships from 2016-17 to Other
Backward Class (OBC) students. The number of intake of JRF has been enhanced from 300
to 1000per year onwards to undertake advanced studies and research leading to M.Phil.
/Ph.D. Degrees, who have qualified in the following tests:

i) National Eligibility Test ) – Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC (for

Humanities/Social Sciences) or
ii) UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) NET-JRF Joint
Test (for Sciences)

The scheme covers all universities/institutions recognized by the University Grants

Commission (UGC) and are implemented by the UGC itself on the pattern of the scheme of
UGC Fellowships being awarded to research students pursuing M.Phil. and Ph.D. These
1000 slots will be over and above the number of OBC students selected under the normal
reservation policy of the Government for UGC Fellowship.

III. Implementing Agency

The UGC is the nodal agency for implementing the scheme.

IV. Eligibility

i. Eligibility conditions are as per notification for UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC-NET

examinations. The other Backward Class (OBC) candidates qualifying for the award
of NFOBC will be eligible to receive fellowship subject to finding placement in the
University/IITs/Institutions. The validity period of the offer is 3 years with effect
from the date of issue of JRF Award letter. However, in case of candidates who have

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 already joined M.Phil. /Ph.D. the date of Commencement of fellowship shall be form
the date of declaration of result of NFOBC or date of their joining, whichever is later.
ii. Students belonging to Other Backward Class (OBC) category once considered
eligible for the fellowship shall not be entitled to any other benefits from Central or
State Government or any other body like UGC offering similar benefit to avoid
duplication and increase coverage. Only those, doing regular and full time M.Phil.
/Ph.D. course of a University/research Institution shall be eligible for the
fellowship.
iii. After two years, if the progress in the research work of the awardee is found
satisfactory, his/her tenure will be extended for a further period of three years as
Senior Research Fellow (SRF). The research work will be assessed as per the UGC
norms. The total period of award of JRF and SRF shall not exceed a period of 5 years.
iv. At least 4% of the total seats should be reserved for students with disabilities while
making selection of candidates for award of fellowships by the UGC.
v. Employees of any University/Educational Institution/Central/State/UT
Government shall be excluded from availing the fellowship, even if they are on
study leave of Extra Ordinary Leave (EOL) to pursue M.Phil./Ph.D.

V. Number of Fellowships

i. The total number of slots for NFOBC under the scheme is 1000 per year. Out of 1000
slots available under this scheme, 750 will be allocated for the subjects under
National Eligibility Test – Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC and
remaining 250 UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) NET-
JRF joint test (for Science streams).
ii. These 1000 slots will be over and above the OBC Students selected under the
normal reservation policy of the Government.

VI. Duration of Fellowship

Name of course Maximum Admissibility of JRF and SRF
Duration JRF SRF
M. Phil. 2 years 2 years Nil
Ph.D. 5 years 2 years Remaining 3 years
M.Phil. + Ph.D. 5 years 2 years Remaining 3 years

VII. Rate of fellowships

i. The rates of fellowship for JRF and SRF will be at par with the UGC Fellowships
(w.e.f 01.01.2019). Presently these rates are as follows:

Fellowship in Science @ Rs.31,000/- p.m. for initial two years (JRF)

Humanities and Social Science
@ Rs.35,000/- p.m. for remaining tenure (SRF)
Fellowship in Engineering &
Technology

Contingency for Humanities & @ Rs.10,000/- p.a. for initial two years
Social Sciences @ Rs. 20,500/- p.a. for remaining tenure
Contingency for Sciences, @ Rs. 12,000/- p.a. for initial two years
Engineering & Technology @ Rs. 25,000/- p.a. for remaining tenure
Escorts/Reader assistance (All @ Rs. 2,000/- p.m. in cases of physically and
subjects) visually handicapped candidates
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 ii. The House Rent Allowance (HRA) will be on the UGC pattern and will be payable to
those students who are not provided with hostel accommodation. In case hostel
accommodation offered by the University/institution is refused, the student will
forfeit his claim of HRA, other facilities such as medical facilities, leave including
maternity leave will be governed as per the guidelines of the UGC in case of their
fellowship programme.

VIII. Selection Procedure for Fellowship for OBCs (JRF):

i. UGC is the nodal agency for implementing the scheme.

ii. The selection for the award of NFOBC to students will be made on the basis of merit
in each UGC-NET-JRF and CSIR-NET-JRF examination and will be made twice in a
year.
iii. The qualified candidates have to enrol in Universities/institutions/colleges
recognized under:

a. Under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 i.e. Universities established under
Central, Provincial or State Acts or any other institution recognized by UGC.
Under Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act, 1956 i.e. Universities declared fit to
receive grants from Government.
b. Grant-in-Aid Deemed Universities under Section 3 of UGC Act i.e. Institution
for higher education notified by Central Government to be deemed
University, in consultation with UGC.
c. Universities/Institution funded by State/Central Government.
d. Institutions of National Importance as notified by Ministry of Human
Resource Development.
(mhrd.gov.in/institutions-national-importance)

iv. The decision of the UGC in regarding to awarding the fellowship shall be final and no
appeal could be filed against it.

IX. Monitoring & Evaluation

A dashboard to monitor progress, geographic spread, discipline wise students enrolled,

sanctions, completion of courses etc. shall be put in place by UGC on its portal to be
accessed by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment via login credential.

The expenditure on evaluation/monitoring of the fellowship programme shall be met out

of the funds provided for the scheme. Award of SRF done after appropriate evaluation of
performance in carrying out the research work by the candidate in the Junior Fellowship
phase.

X. Aadhaar Seeding:

Payment of fellowship and any other admissible allowance shall be made to beneficiaries
through their bank account on DBT mode. The Ministry of Social Justice vide notification
number 428 dated February 16, 2017 has notified Aadhaar as identify document under
Section 7 of Aadhaar Act, 2016 for all scholarship/ fellowship schemes.

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XI. Procedure for release of grant by UGC:

(i) The fellowship amount shall be disbursed to the awardee on Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) basis. The process of updating monthly confirmation with
respect to the awardees by the host institution and payments thereof is being
implemented on a dedicated web portal
https://scholarship.canarabank.in/AdminLogin.aspx .
(ii) Bank account number of the beneficiaries will be validated through PFMS for
creating of beneficiary ID.
(iii) Video tutorial and guidelines for operating the web portal is available on UGC
website and may be referred for use.
(iv) Genuineness of the OBC certificate furnished by the awardee shall be verified by
the concerned University/Institution before the details are updated on the web
portal.
(v) The concerned University/Institution shall also ensure that the awardee is not
availing any other fellowship/project from any other organization at the time of
selection and fulfills all the other conditions as laid in the guidelines.
(vi) The fellow will undertake regular full time research work under the approved
guide in a subject selected by him/her and approved by the university/selection
committee.
(vii) In case any candidate is found to have obtained fellowship through fraudulent
means or provided incorrect information the university/institution may cancel
his/her fellowship under intimation to the UGC.

XII. Resignation and Transfer:

(i) If any Fellow resigns or relinquishes the fellowship before the end of the tenure,
information may be submitted by the concerned university/institution on the
designated web portal itself and stop payment link may be used at the time of
monthly confirmation.
(ii) Transfer of research place will be allowed only once during the entire tenure.
Transfer can be made by the concerned university/institution itself on the
designated web portal through the concerned link available therein.

XIII. Cancellation of Award:

The fellowship is liable to cancellation, in case of:

i. If the scholar is found to be ineligible to receive the fellowship, at any point of

time during the entire duration of the fellowship.
ii. If it is found that the fellowship has been availed/is claimed by furnishing
false/wrong/misleading information.
iii. If any adverse report is received from the institution.
iv. Misconduct/misbehavior/corrupt practices.
v. Unsatisfactory progress of research work.
vi. Violation of terms and conditions of these guidelines.
vii. Plagiarism or unethical practices, in any form.
viii. Candidate is already availing scholarship/fellowship from any other source.
ix. Candidate is found employed during the M.Phil. /Ph.D. research.

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